Hon. Union Minister of State for Commerce & Industry Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman graces foundation stone laying ceremony of IIGJ Mumbai, Varanasi Extension Campus
Varanasi: The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) is taking a big step towards realizing Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s one of the dream project, ‘Skill India’ by setting up the first-of-its-kind Indian Institute of Gem & Jewellery (IIGJ) in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Varanasi is the fifth centre in the country after Mumbai, New Delhi, Jaipur and Kolkata to have an IIGJ campus.
Hon. Union Minister of State for Commerce & Industry Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman graced the foundation stone laying ceremony of IIGJ Varanasi Extension Campus which is located in Kuber Mall, one of prime areas of Varanasi city.
Hon. Union Minister of State for Commerce & Industry Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman said on the occasion “Unlike other sectors, Gem & Jewellery sector has direct impact on job creation. This is one sector which has different sub sectors by which gem & jewellery industry provides maximum jobs to people who come from rural areas and also with non gem & jewellery background through proper training.
She further added “This holy city has longest history of human civilization. A city of this stature has shown ages ago that it has craftsmanship. GJEPC has come here to see that the talent which has been cultivated here for years is not lost. It is our responsibility to not only identify and support but ensure that the process is handed over to the next generation”
Mr. Praveenshankar Pandya, Chairman, GJEPC, said, “GJEPC, the apex gem & jewellery body in India has always strived to support Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s vision for putting India on the trajectory of growth through numerous initiatives, one such being ‘Skill India’. We are establishing an IIGJ in one of the oldest learning centres of the world – Varanasi – with the ultimate objective of nurturing talent & enhancing export from the region. We hope to revive the rich tradition of jewellery designing craftsmanship in the entire northern region through this first-of-its-kind IIGJ Institute. We are also grateful to Shri. Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy and Mines, Government of India for his unstinted support towards the growth of Indian Gem & Jewellery Sector at large. His encouragement for establishment of this Institute is commendable”
Mr. Pandya, further added “Uttar Pradesh and the eastern part of India comprising of the states of West Bengal, Bihar, Tripura and Orissa, have always been traditionally very rich in art and culture; and IIGJ Varanasi Extension Campus will be a boon and benefit students and professionals from UP and the Eastern India. In sync with the Government’s Teach India and Skill Upgradation programme, IIGJ Varanasi Extension Campus will nurture skill and talent in the gem & jewellery sector and stop erosion of large scale migration of artisans to other sectors.”
India’s Gem & Jewellery Industry over the years has grown from a mere US$ 28 Million in 1966-67 to US$38 Billion in 2015-16. It is noteworthy that this industry provides employment to around 3 million people across India.
In a study conducted by NSDC on ‘Human Resources and Skill Requirement in the Gem & Jewellery Industry’, Annual Survey of Industries and IMaCS analysis, it was observed that the eastern part of India is very deficient in gem and jewellery sector. One of the major reasons is the unavailability of trained and skilled workers in this area. With the proposed establishment of IIGJ Varanasi, it is expected that the export of gems and jewellery would significantly improve from the city of Varanasi and eastern India. The last decades of rapid industrialization in India together with the phenomenal rise of Information Technology has missed these states and therefore, the need for these States to revive their traditional skills and culture to grow economically is critical. IIGJ Varanasi will bridge the gaps and help students/ existing workers to get access to the best possible quality education, best-in-class technology practices and skill enhancement tools & techniques in the gem & jewellery business.
IIGJ offers several other intensive courses for specific career in Jewellery Industry extending from 6-months to 1-year in Jewellery Design, Manufacturing & CAD all with a benefit of on the job training. The institute aims at nurturing the fresh talent who wish to pursue career in the gems and jewellery industry.
Post Graduate Diploma in jewellery Techniques & Management is designed specifically keeping in mind the knowledge required to train an aspirant to become an entrepreneur. Whereas other short term courses in CAD, Manufacturing, Merchandising, Diamond Grading & Gemology are designed for up gradation & skill enhancement courses which enable the students to learn key skills sets of the Industry there by allowing them to be placed in the Industry with professional skill sets.
Apart from regular jewellery educational classes for students, the Institute also conducts customized courses for working professionals, jewellery manufacturing and retailing companies (for e.g. Titan Industries Ltd.), Financial Institutions and BIS sponsored Gold appraisal courses. Years of experience of conducting diverse jewellery functional training programs, has given the Institute the wherewithal to conduct any tailor made- need based training programmes for strategic and competitive advantages for profitable fiscal results.
